Anal retractor



p 1945. J. R. HELFRIC'K 2,384,304

ANAL RETRACTOR Fi led Aug. 18, r 1944 INVENTORQ Patented Sept. 4, 1945 r 2,384,304 ANAL-@RETRAGTORJ JQSQphe Rembrandt Helfrick;

Port washing-ton NaY Application August-'18, 1944, Serial No.550,091 cl Y (01, 128 l This --invention relatesto new -and--useful improvements in an anal retractor.--

More particularly-,the invention contemplates,

an improved ana]; retractor which is characterlzedlsby. a pair of-;semi-annular-- members having annular. memb era-abut each other and limit piv-- oting-to .a positionin which the pair ofsemi-- annular members are in a common plane.

The. invention i also proposes the provision of anchor springsmounted-on the top-facesof-the semi: annular members.

Rigid strips are also. proposed. to be mountedover the; adjacent ends. of said. semi-annular bets-0i. half round stock with: the .half round faces comprising the. bottom .faceof the annular retractor. The dominating featurepflthenimproved anal retractor, resides. in the, fact that it maybe foldedup andeasily-fits-into a surgeons bag Whenit is in=its.openecondition it-is used;

in t e .u ual ay Another; object; of the.-inventionis. the :con-

struction ofan article; as.,.mentioned-. which is simple. and durablaandwhich maybe manufac-. tuned and. sold at a reasonablacost.

For further comprehension of the invention, and of the objects and advantages thereof, reference will be had to the following description and accompanying drawing, and to the appended claims in which the various novel features of the invention are more particularly set forth.

In the accompanying drawing forming a material part of this disclosure:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of an anal retractor constructed in accordance with this invention and schematically illustrated in use.

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the anal retractor, per se.

Fig. 3 is a perspective bottom view of the anal retractor.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary enlarged elevational View looking in the direction of the line 4-4 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary enlarged elevational view looking in the direction of the line 5-5 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 6 is a perspective view-of-one-ofltherigidstrips usedin the anal retractor.

Fig. 7 is-a perspective view of=the-ana1retractor in-itsfolded condition;-

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary elevational view lookinginthe direction of the line 8- -8 of Figs '7.

Fig; 9 is-a fragmentary elevational view sim ilar to-Fig. 4 butillustrating a-modified construc 171011;"

Fig. lOis a plan view of-Fig.-9.'- The anal retractor, in aocordance -with- -this invention, includes a pairof semi-annular -mem-- bers ill I and -II -having-their-ends-in-endabutment with each other. Hinges- I 2 connect -ad-ja-- cent ends of saidmembers- I 0 ..-a.nd.- l I by-which themembers may be folded -one upon-the other; as illustrated-in 1 ig.:-'7. The hinges l2.'-are-so.- 10- cated on theends Qfthemembersthat. when the analretractor is in' its open conditionthe ends abut each otherlsee Figr l) and limit'pivoting of the hingestopositions in which the semi-- annular members 'arein a-.com-rnon -plane.--

Anchor springs 4 k are mounted uponthe 1 top faces of the semi-annular-members.- These-topfaces are flat- The .semi-annular-members l0 and H areformed from-half roundstock. The curved faces are at the bottom so as to-beadj h centthe body of a person upon which the retractor is used. Theanchor springs lflare secured to the annular. members -by--screws I 5 :at their ,central p0rti0ns.= The ends l6 of -thean-- chor springs I5 are turnedslightlyupwards to A. facilitate slipping the holding cords 1. and strings beneath them.

Rigid strips I! are mounted over the adjacent ends of the semi-annular members l0 and II for locking them in end abutment with each other. Each rigid strip I! is mounted at one of the ends by a pivot screw I8. This pivot screw is provided with a shoulder-like portion I9 under its head for engaging through the opening 20 in the rigid strip for pivotally supporting the rigid strip with a minimum of play. Each rigid strip 11 has an upwardly curved portion 2| extending over the hinge l2. Each rigid strip I1 is also provided with a downwardly extending inside stop lug 22 for engaging against the inside diameter of the anal retractor for holding the rigid strip in position over the abutting ends.

When the anal retractor is not used, it is folded as illustrated in Figs. 7 and 8, and in this way it is carried in the physicians bag. The anal retractor is used by opening it up so that the semi-annular members In and H are in a common plane, and then the rigid strips I! are pivoted over the abutting ends to the positions illustrated in Figs. 2, 3 and 4.

The rigid strips l'l serve to lock the semi-annular members l and II in their open positions. The anal retractor is then placed over a cavity or incision in a patients body, as for example illustrated in Fig. 1. Clips 25 clipped on to the edge portions of the cavity or incision are connected with strings 26. These strings are pulled tightly outwards so as to open the cavity 28 or incision, and then the strings 26 are wound around the anchor springs l4.

In Figs. 9 and 10 a modified form of the invention has been disclosed which distinguishes from the prior form in the fact that the outer end of each anchor spring is provided with a boss 28, or thickened portion through which a' clamp screw 29 threadedly engages. This clamp screw 29 has a conical bottom end 30 adapted to engage in a small conical recess formed in the top face of the adjacent semi-annular member.

In other respects this form of the invention is similar to that previously shown and like reference numerals identify like parts in each of the several views. 7 r

The operation of this form of the invention is very similar to the prior form, distinguishing merely in the fact that when the clamp screws 29 are screwed downwards so that their conical ends 30 engage the recesses in the top faces of the semi-annular members, the rigid strips II will be locked in their positions over the abutting ends of the semi-annular members. Still further, when the screws 29 are turned down tightly they will force the abutting ends of the semi-annular members tightly against each other and so add to the rigidity of the anal retractor.

While I have illustrated and described the preferred embodiments of my invention, it is to be understood that I do not limit myself to the pre cise constructions herein disclosed and the right is reserved to all changes and modifications coming within the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by United States Letters Patent is: e

1. An anal retractor, comprising a pair of semiannular members having their ends in end abutment with each other, hinges connecting adjacent ends of said members by which they may be folded one upon the other, anchor springs mounted on the top faces of said members, rigid strips mounted over the adjacent ends of said members for locking them in end abutment with each other, and pivots for said rigid strips by which they may be moved to release said abutting ends.

2. An anal retractor, comprising a pair of semiannular members having their ends in end abutment with each other, hinges connecting adjacent ends of said members by which they may be folded one upon the other, anchor springs mounted on the top faces of said members, rigid strips mounted over the adjacent ends of said members for locking them in end abutment with each other, and pivots for said rigid strips by which they may be moved to release said abutting ends, said semi-annular members being of half round stock.

3. An anal retractor, comprising a pair of semiannular members having their ends in end abutment with each other, hinges connecting adjacent ends of said members by which they may be folded one upon the other, anchor springs mounted on the top faces of said members, rigid strips mounted over the adjacent ends of said members for locking them in .end; abutment witheach other, and pivots forsaid rigid strips by which they maybe moved to release said abutting ends, saidrigid strips having curved portions extending over said hinges.

4. An anal retractor, comprising a pairof semiannular members having their ends in end abutment with each other, hinges connecting adjacent ends of said members by which they may be foldedone upon the other, anchor springs mounted on the top faces of said members, rigid strips mounted over the adjacent ends of said members for locking them in end abutment with each other, and pivots for said rigid'strips by which they may be moved to release said abutting ends, said rigid strips having curved portions extending over said hinges, and having'downwardly extending inside stop lugs for engaging'against the in-- gside diameter of'said semi-annular members.

5. An anal retractor, comprising apair of semiannular members having their ends in end abutment with each other, hinges connecting adjacent ends of said members by which they may be folded Zone upon the other, anchor springs mounted on the top faces of said members, rigid strips mountedover the adjacent ends of said members for locking them in end abutment with each other, pivots for said rigid strips bywhich they may be moved to release said abutting ends, and clamp screws threadedly mounted through said rigid strips and abutting said semi-annular-members for holding the rigid strips fixedly in position.

JOSEPH REMBRANDT HELFRICK. 

